If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion (lust), evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. Colossians 3:1-7
This text is better translated, “since” you were raised. And this verb actually means “to be co-resurrected.” As a “Christian,” a genuine born again believer, you are not bound to the rudiments of this world. You’re not under the laws; touch not, handle not, taste not. You’ve risen with Christ. And because of our union with Christ, believers spiritually entered His death and resurrection at the moment of their conversion. This is so important for us to remember that I’ve highlighted it for our good. We are always with the Lord forever! We are made alive through Him so as to understand these spiritual truths, and their realities that make us now alive in Christ, and be found in the will of God. The apostle Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Eph.1:3). In His providential grace, God has already given all believers total spiritual blessings from His kingdom. This Divine work from God reveals His priority of the spiritual over the material blessings, because material blessings can never be eternal, and have a limited source for which it will last. Spiritual blessing for example of the wisdom and knowledge of God, the Father, through His Son, Jesus Christ, not only gives us spiritually blessing that will be eternal, but also, much opportunity while living in this life to be a spiritual blessing to others.
So Paul is calling for us to “set our minds” on these things, the privileges and riches of the heavenly kingdom, all of which are at our disposal. To set your mind on is to also think on or have this inner peace about. Sitting at the right hand of God—The position of honor and majesty, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God enjoys now. And is the foundation of blessing by which our exaltation of Him, our praise and heart-felt worship of Him, is the source of blessings to all believers. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God—My life is a reflection of what I am, and what I believe. What we honor defines us. So I should not be living after the flesh, nor be pursuing the things of the flesh. This is no longer who I am, nor what I am about. My life is to be at one with Jesus Christ, and just as He died for our sin, since He was sin-less, He met all the requirements God required of a holy and righteous sacrifice. This is how and why we are saved. God sent His Son to take our place at the cross of Calvary. Now you and I need to consider ourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but now alive in Christ.
When Christ who is our life—Can you say Christ is my life? That is key for our Christian walk, is Christ involved in everything in my life? Am I keeping Him from areas in my heart or life that excludes Him, and His Lordship over it. To be truthful and honest is individually up to you to decide this once for all. That in this life I am living is going to be lived for Christ, then I have to reckon myself dead to the things of this world, that are harmful to me or my family, and their walk with God. I am to be transparent in how I willingly admit my weakness in this or that area of my life, and ask in faith, Lord, please deliver me from that bondage. You died for it, therefore I died to it too. It is glorious to know, that what I am weak in, God’s grace is sufficient for me. “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in your weakness.” The weaker the human instrument, the more clearly God’s grace shines forth in your life, and in my life. The world and it’s agenda to fix all of their problems utilizing their own strength and limited human resources, cannot understand this spiritual principle, because the Bible declares that they are blinded by the god of this age, which is Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4).
When Christ who is our life appears—Jesus is going to come again as He said with “with the clouds of heaven…and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). “Behold He cometh…every eye shall see Him” (Revelation 1:7). So when Christ who is our life shall appear, we shall appear with Him in glory. Oh what a glorious Day that will be! So we believers have a common spiritual life with the Father and with the Son, the world cannot understand it, the full impact of a believers new life lived by faith. And because we are eternally secure, we should be the most gracious and loving people on our planet. Which brings us to our concluding text and summation.
Put to death—The church pure is the church strong. There is a huge effect of sexual sin not only by the world who does not know Christ, but within the church today. Christian men who are addicted to pornography, Christian marriages ending in divorce because the wife won’t submit to her husband as the Bible indicates to. Two separate problems, yet, ultimately it is weakening the body of Christ. Paul in writing to the church at Ephesus, tells them pretty much the same things, that because of these things the wrath of God is coming to the earth. Therefore, we should not be guilty of committing these sins. What things? The things which promote sexual immorality. “Know this,” he said, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 5:5-6). And as Paul was writing to the Galatians and was listing the works of the flesh, he said, “That we know that those who do (practice) these things shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven” (Galatians 5:21). So what we read from our text in warning is not just written in a small way, to only one church in this case. Paul wrote this through out his epistles to the churches in the New Testament, so that its believers would take heed to its warnings seriously.
Beloved friend, No Christian will be ever sinless in this present life, but it is dangerously deceptive for Christians to feel secure in assurance in their offer of eternal salvation, even if they are professing believers, whose life is characterized by persistent sexual sin, which not only brings defilement to their relationships, being married or single, but also interrupts their own ability to have a close relationship with the Lord. So let us not be deceived, don’t let man deceive you who hold the truth of God in unrighteousness. You cannot live after the flesh and inherit the kingdom of God. Remember that you died to your flesh the moment you asked Jesus into your life. You are His child now. Born again, and as accepted by Christ, you have renounced your old way of life in the flesh. Dead to the flesh, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. Living after the Spirit of God, being filled with the Spirit, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God (Romans 8:14). Praise the Lord!
May the Lord bless your walk with Him today!
